This is a film recording of a concert which was organised and hosted by the Bradford Branch of the Ukrainian Youth Association (commonly referred to by its acronym CYM, transliterated from the Ukrainian Spilka Ukraiyinskoiy Molodi) on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. The concert is conducted mostly in Ukrainian, but many of the introductions and speeches are given in both English and Ukrainian. The film was made by the Ukrainian Video Archives Society (UVAS). The film starts with views...

This is a film recording of a concert which was organised and hosted by the Bradford Branch of the Ukrainian Youth Association (commonly referred to by its acronym CYM, transliterated from the Ukrainian Spilka Ukraiyinskoiy Molodi) on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. The concert is conducted mostly in Ukrainian, but many of the introductions and speeches are given in both English and Ukrainian. The film was made by the Ukrainian Video Archives Society (UVAS). The film starts with views of people arriving and taking their seats in the hall at Bradford Ukrainian Cultural Centre. There are views of an exhibition displaying images and information about the work of CYM Bradford over the last 50 years at the back of the hall. The camera then moves to shows a display featuring an anniversary cake in front of the stage at the front of the hall. The Concert begins with a short welcome from Volodymyr Karpynets, a member of the CYM National Committee (Kraiyova Uprava, abbreviated to KU) and former member of CYM Bradford. The main focus of the camera is on the stage at the front of the hall. Most of the adults taking part in the event are second generation Ukrainians, and most of the children are third generation Ukrainians. The concert programme is a series of arts and literary performances punctuated by speeches and awards. Posthumous awards are collected by a member of the deceased’s family. The first act is the current CYM members (referred to as the molodsi [younger] and starshi [older] unatsvo [youth] singing Hey the Insurgents Are Marching (Hey masheruyut vze povstantsi) followed by a poem recital by two young girls. This is followed by an address by the chair of CYM Bradford Stefan Jarockyj which includes a potted history of the branch and mention of the branch’s current work and activities. The next act is the older girls performing a dance called Springtime (Vesnianka), followed by an address by Roman Panas, chair of the CYM National Committee and another former member of CYM Bradford. He congratulates the branch on its anniversary and presents Stefan Jarockyj with a certificate as well as long service certificates to Fedir Jarockyj and Bohdan Zamulinsky. More certificates are awarded, this time to previous chairs of CYM Bradford. The concert continues with a musical medley by Anna and Marko Demenchuk (piano, trumpet and flute) followed by a mixed danced performed by the older youth called Carthpathians (Za Carpatya) and a comedy sketch called Disagreement on Stage (inspired by Prime Minister’s Question Time) performed by two of the older girls. Next, certificates of recognition for the teachers, leaders and choreographers of cultural groups run by CYM are awarded. The concert continues with three songs performed by a choir of the youngest CYM members (known as CYMenyata) and some slightly older children. This is followed by a quintet of older girls singing a song called Europe and then by the younger boys and girls dancing Hopak, Ukraine’s national dance. The performances take another short pause whilst more certificates of recognition are handed out to teachers and group leaders who have worked with Bradford branch over the last 50 years. The entertainment continues with a mixed choir of older youths who perform two songs – Narodniy Rukh (Folk Movement) and Red Wind (Chervoni Viter). The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Tony Miller, then takes the stage and thanks the community for inviting him and congratulates them on the performances so far. He leads a round of applause for the performers and commends the Ukrainian community on its work with young people, praising the community’s values and cultural heritage, and its impact on the prosperity of Bradford and its strength as a place of diversity. The Lord Mayor is thanked for attending and asked to cut the celebration cake, which he obliges wishing everyone a happy birthday. The audience and performers unite to sing Many Years (Mnohaya Lita), and then the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress depart. The performances continue with a mixed dance called Kolomeyka performed by the youngest children and this is followed by the older boys dancing Zaporozich. There is another break in the performances whilst certificates of recognition are handed out for long service and unsung heroes. Next on stage is a quintet of older girls singing Farewell (Proshchanya), followed by a dance called Poltavka performed by the older girls. The next act is introduced as Memories of Past Times performed by mystery guests, which turns out to be a mixed dance performed by older members of the branch, including some of the current teachers and group leaders. They are followed by a mixed compilation dance performed by the oldest current members (known as druzynyky). The final performance features everyone who has taken part in the concert singing a song called Ukraine, and is followed by a closing address by head of CYM Bradford and the final award of certificates of recognition to people born in Bradford who have left the city but have continued to work in CYM either nationally, internationally or in other communities including Roman Panas, Volodymyr Karpynets and Bohdan Zamulinsky. Gifts are then awarded to those who organised the celebration including Ivan Gawlyk, Olha Stepovna, Hania Szlahetko and Orysia Chymera. The audience’s attention is brought to a textile banner which has been the stage backdrop for the whole concert: each element of which has been created by each rij (group) especially for the event. The programme for the rest of the evening is announced, including an outdoor firework display, a special reception for performers and invited guests and an evening dance with music from the Black Sea Cossacks. A requiem mass will be celebrated the following day for all deceased members. The concert closes with the performers and audience all singing both the British and Ukrainian national anthems in their respective languages.